MNimize awards businesses at one of four achievement levels based on their efforts to reduce single-use plastic. The program also helps businesses identify opportunities to continue reducing single-use plastic and provides technical assistance so they can take further action.

Additionally, eligible participating businesses can get up to $500 through the MNimize Rebate toward expenses to reduce single-use plastic. This rebate could be used to purchase durable reusable or certified compostable alternatives to replace single-use plastic items or for other creative plastic reduction strategies.

La Doña Cerveceria reduces waste, saves money with help of MNimize Rebate

Businesses across Hennepin County are already making an impact through their participation in MNimize. La Doña Cerveceria took advantage of the MNimize Rebate to replace their plastic-lined paper food trays with reusable metal trays and durable plastic baskets. This change will avoid an estimated 53,000 disposable items every year, resulting in an annual cost savings of over $1,500.

Get involved and make an impact

Reducing single-use plastic is an impactful opportunity to divert waste, keep plastic out of the environment, build brand loyalty with existing and new customers, and generate cost savings. MNimize welcomes any and all food businesses that are interested in tackling single-use plastic waste.

Businesses interested in getting started should visit the website and submit an inquiry form. Download the MNimize media kit (PDF) for resources to spread the word and encourage businesses to join.

Local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, institutions, and businesses in Hennepin County can apply now for funding to implement projects that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.

Grant funding can be used to address pathways of aquatic invasive species introduction, provide education, promote behavior change, implement early detection and rapid response efforts, and pursue other ideas that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. 

Review the grant flyer (PDF) for more details. Applications are due by Thursday, January 12, 2023. Learn more and apply. 

For more information, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or 612-348-4378. 

Hennepin County is working to reduce plastic waste as part of achieving our zero waste and climate action goals. As part of this effort, Hennepin County offers the Plastic-Free Challenge to engage residents in learning about plastics and committing to actions that help create a plastic-free world.

But we can’t do it alone! We are seeking partners to help increase promotion, recruitment, and engagement for the challenge.

Partners help:

• Expand our reach by promoting the challenge to their audiences.
• Strengthen engagement in the challenge by creating teams of colleagues, friends, and neighbors who motivate and hold each other accountable.
• Increase our impact by offering educational events on plastic-free topics or discounts on plastic-free goods and services.

See the Plastic-Free partnership guide (PDF) to learn more, and complete the partnership form to sign up.

Hennepin County suburbs like Brooklyn Park and Plymouth are seeing more and more ash trees become infested with and dying from emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest. Infected trees are important to remove before they become brittle and dangerous. High value trees can be treated with an insecticide every few years to preserve them. This can give time to plant new trees that will eventually replace them.

Hennepin County awards Healthy Tree Canopy Grants to help cities, schools, affordable housing properties, and nonprofit organizations remove ash trees and plant new trees in their place. The county also has a decision guide for managing ash trees (PDF) to help residents decide what to do. Learn more in the Star Tribune and on CCX Media.

Forever Ware, a company that works with food businesses to provide reusable and returnable takeout containers, fills an important gap in the waste reduction system. Although many businesses use reusable dishes in the restaurant, there are not many options for reuse when it comes to takeout. Forever Ware’s reuse system allows multiple restaurants to opt in to prevent takeout packaging waste, especially single-use plastics.

Hennepin County seeks to support innovative projects through the business waste prevention grants, which is why the county recently awarded a $77,000 grant to help Forever Ware expand their participants and make their model more sustainable. Read more in the Star Tribune.

1. Buy from the bulk section with your own reusable containers or get the family-sized packaging and portion into snack size containers.

2. Buy your produce loose using reusable produce bags.

3. Make your own cleaners in a reusable bottle.

4. Look for make-up that doesn’t come in plastic packaging or choose a company that offers packaging recycling.

5. Don’t underestimate the power of buying secondhand, which reduces the demand for new plastic products and packaging.

• Shop for gifts at local or secondhand stores
• Give gifts of experiences, that share your talents, or that promote sustainability
• Minimize the number of gifts you give and make sure you give things the recipient really wants
• Wrap gifts in reusable bags or fabric

• Buy holiday cards made from recycled paper
• Use Energy Star certified LED lights for decorating
• Avoid buying plastic decorations and incorporate natural elements instead
• Consider what the best environmental options are for buying a real versus artificial tree

• Plan your menu for gatherings using a food calculator to avoid wasting food
• Serve locally grown food when possible
• Use reusable cups, dishes, and utensils during your gatherings and package up leftovers in reusable containers